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■ Definition of Traumatic
Brain Injury under IDEA
Traumatic Brain Injury is an acquired injury to the brain
caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or
partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment,
or both, that adversely affects a child’s educational per-formance.
The term applies to open or closed head
injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas,
such as cognition; language; memory; attention; rea-soning;
abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving;
sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psycho-social
behavior; physical functions; information processing;
and speech. The term does not apply to brain injuries
that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries
induced by birth trauma. 34 CFR 300.8(c)(12)
TYPES
• Concussions - the most common type of TBI
• Penetration injury – from bullets or other objects
entering the skull
• Contusions - bleeding that results from blows to the head
• Diffuse axonal injury – damage from tearing of the
brain tissue (includes shaken baby syndrome and some
bicycle, car or motorcycle accident injuries)
EVALUATIONS
Evaluation information must establish that total or par-tial
functional disability psychosocial impairment, or
both, are due to the injury. The resulting impairment(s)
adversely affects educational performance. Evaluation
information may include medical, communication/lan-guage,
cognitive/intellectual, social/emotional/behav-ioral,
sensorimotor/perceptual, adaptive behavior, and
academic/achievement/developmental.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain
caused by the head being hit by something or shaken
violently. This injury can change how the person acts,
moves, and thinks. A traumatic brain injury can also
change how a student learns and acts in school. The
term TBI is used for head injuries that can cause chang-es
in one or more areas, such as:
• thinking and reasoning
• understanding words
• remembering things
• paying attention
• solving problems
• thinking abstractly
• talking
• behaving
• walking and other physical activities
• seeing and/or hearing
• learning.
INCIDENCE
Approximately 1.4 million people receive traumatic
brain injuries every year. Of children 0-14 years old, TBI
results in 435,000 trips to the emergency room annu-ally,
37,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 2,700 deaths.
TEACHING TIPS/INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
• Find out as much as you can about the child’s injury
and his or her present needs. Find out more about TBI.
See the list of resources and organizations at the end
of this publication.
• Give the student more time to finish schoolwork and
tests.
• Give directions one step at a time. For tasks with many
steps, it helps to give the student written directions.
• Show the student how to perform new tasks. Give
examples to go with new ideas and concepts.
• Have consistent routines. This helps the student know
what to expect. If the routine is going to change, let the
student know ahead of time.
• Check to make sure that the student has actually
learned the new skill. Give the student lots of opportu-nities
to practice the new skill.
• Show the student how to use an assignment book and
a daily schedule. This helps the student get organized.
• Realize that the student may get tired quickly. Let the
student rest as needed.
• Reduce distractions.
• Keep in touch with the student’s parents. Share infor-mation
about how the student is doing at home and at
school.
• Be flexible about expectations. Be patient. Maximize
the student’s chances for success.
This information developed from the following resources:
• Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma
www.braininjuryoklahoma.org
• Brainline
www.brainline.org
• Head Injury Hotline
www.headinjury.com
• National Dissemination Center for
Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
www.nichcy.org
• National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury
www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu/
• Oklahoma Support Groups
www.brainandspinalcord.org
• Teachers and Families
www.teachersandfamilies.com
• Traumatic Brain Injury & Neurological Disorder Treatment
www.traumaticbraininjury.net
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FACT
SHEET
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Special Education Services • 405-521-3351 • www .ok.gov/sde/special-education

■ Definition of Traumatic
Brain Injury under IDEA
Traumatic Brain Injury is an acquired injury to the brain
caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or
partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment,
or both, that adversely affects a child’s educational per-formance.
The term applies to open or closed head
injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas,
such as cognition; language; memory; attention; rea-soning;
abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving;
sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psycho-social
behavior; physical functions; information processing;
and speech. The term does not apply to brain injuries
that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries
induced by birth trauma. 34 CFR 300.8(c)(12)
TYPES
• Concussions - the most common type of TBI
• Penetration injury – from bullets or other objects
entering the skull
• Contusions - bleeding that results from blows to the head
• Diffuse axonal injury – damage from tearing of the
brain tissue (includes shaken baby syndrome and some
bicycle, car or motorcycle accident injuries)
EVALUATIONS
Evaluation information must establish that total or par-tial
functional disability psychosocial impairment, or
both, are due to the injury. The resulting impairment(s)
adversely affects educational performance. Evaluation
information may include medical, communication/lan-guage,
cognitive/intellectual, social/emotional/behav-ioral,
sensorimotor/perceptual, adaptive behavior, and
academic/achievement/developmental.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain
caused by the head being hit by something or shaken
violently. This injury can change how the person acts,
moves, and thinks. A traumatic brain injury can also
change how a student learns and acts in school. The
term TBI is used for head injuries that can cause chang-es
in one or more areas, such as:
• thinking and reasoning
• understanding words
• remembering things
• paying attention
• solving problems
• thinking abstractly
• talking
• behaving
• walking and other physical activities
• seeing and/or hearing
• learning.
INCIDENCE
Approximately 1.4 million people receive traumatic
brain injuries every year. Of children 0-14 years old, TBI
results in 435,000 trips to the emergency room annu-ally,
37,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 2,700 deaths.
TEACHING TIPS/INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
• Find out as much as you can about the child’s injury
and his or her present needs. Find out more about TBI.
See the list of resources and organizations at the end
of this publication.
• Give the student more time to finish schoolwork and
tests.
• Give directions one step at a time. For tasks with many
steps, it helps to give the student written directions.
• Show the student how to perform new tasks. Give
examples to go with new ideas and concepts.
• Have consistent routines. This helps the student know
what to expect. If the routine is going to change, let the
student know ahead of time.
• Check to make sure that the student has actually
learned the new skill. Give the student lots of opportu-nities
to practice the new skill.
• Show the student how to use an assignment book and
a daily schedule. This helps the student get organized.
• Realize that the student may get tired quickly. Let the
student rest as needed.
• Reduce distractions.
• Keep in touch with the student’s parents. Share infor-mation
about how the student is doing at home and at
school.
• Be flexible about expectations. Be patient. Maximize
the student’s chances for success.
This information developed from the following resources:
• Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma
www.braininjuryoklahoma.org
• Brainline
www.brainline.org
• Head Injury Hotline
www.headinjury.com
• National Dissemination Center for
Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
www.nichcy.org
• National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury
www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu/
• Oklahoma Support Groups
www.brainandspinalcord.org
• Teachers and Families
www.teachersandfamilies.com
• Traumatic Brain Injury & Neurological Disorder Treatment
www.traumaticbraininjury.net
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FACT
SHEET
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Special Education Services • 405-521-3351 • www .ok.gov/sde/special-education